News

Huge stash of cocaine found in woodland

DRUGS that could have been worth £1million on the streets have been found dumped in a wood.

The stash of cocaine was discovered by a walker in fields at Nursling, just west of the M271, close to the Test Way public footpath.

Detectives say the drugs were found packaged in freezer bags.

The bags were sent for forensic testing, and found to contain £50,000 worth of cocaine, plus a substantial amount of a legal drug called benzocaine – a powder regularly used to “cut” cocaine before it is sold.

Detectives say there was enough of the cutting agent – a form of local anaesthetic – to have manufactured more than £1 million of cocaine.

The discovery was made in February, but details have only just been disclosed by detectives.

Police are appealing for information about anyone seen acting suspiciously in the area in recent months.

Detective Inspector Jason Attwell, of Operation Fortress, said: “We are keen to hear from any members of the public who may have seen anyone in the area over the past few months. The location where the drugs were recovered is near to the Test Way public footpath, which runs beneath the motorway, so it is potentially somewhere with quite high foot traffic.”

Det Insp Attwell urged anyone with information about the drugs or who might be responsible to call 101, or ring the anonymous Crimestoppers hotline, on 0800 555 111.